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The national data on colorectal cancer in Saudi Arabia has not been analyzed. The objective of this study is to describe the demographics, incidence and survival rates for colorectal cancer in Saudi Arabia for the period 1994-2010. Retrospective analysis of the Saudi Cancer Registry data for the period 1994-2010. Data from the Saudi Cancer Registry was analyzed by stage at presentation (local, regional, distal, unknown) and survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. From 9889 colorectal cancer cases, a sample of 549 (5.6%) patients was selected and their living status ascertained to assess survival. Colorectal cancer has been the most common cancer among men and the third commonest among women since 2002 in Saudi Arabia. There has been a slight predominance among men with an average ratio of 116:100 over the years (range: 99:100-132:100). The overall age-standardized rate (ASR) approached a plateau of 9.6/100000 in 2010. The incidence of the disease has been highest in the capital, Riyadh, where it reached 14.5/100000 in 2010. Median age at presentation has been stable at around 60 years (95% confidence Interval (CI): 57-61 years) for men and 55 years (95% CI: 53-58 years) for women. Distant metastasis was diagnosed in 28.4% of patients at the time of presentation and rectal cancer represented 41% of all colorectal cancers diagnosed in 2010. The overall 5-year survival was 44.6% for the period 1994-2004. The ASR for all age groups below 45 years of age was lower than that for the United States. The study was retrospective with a possibility of bias from inaccurate staging of patients, and inaccurate survival information and patient demographics due to the underdeveloped census system prior to 2001. Survival data for the period 2005-2010 are lacking. Colorectal cancer presents at a younger age in Saudis, especially in women. This has a major implication for decisions about the threshold age for screening. The ASR has increased, but is still much lower than in developed countries. The lower overall 5-year survival compared with developed countries is due to lack of screening, a higher proportion of advanced stage cancer at presentation, lack of specialized care outside the major cities and a higher proportion of rectal cancer cases.

Colorectal cancer is the most common cancer among Saudi men and the third commonest among Saudi women. Given the predominance of colorectal cancer compared with other cancers in Saudi Arabia, context-specific guidelines are needed for screening. Experts from the Saudi Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Saudi Gastroenterology Association, Saudi Oncology Society, Saudi Chapter of Enterostomal Therapy, Family Medicine and Department of Public Health at the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health and a patient advocate was assembled by the Saudi Centre for Evidence-Based Healthcare, a subsidiary of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health. The panel collaborated with a methodological team from McMaster University, Canada to develop national guidelines for colorectal cancer screening. After identifying key questions, the panel conducted a systematic review of all reports on the utility of screening, the cost of screening for colorectal cancer in Saudi Arabia and on the values and preferences of Saudi patients. Meta- analyses, when appropriate, were performed to generate pooled estimates of effect. Using the GRADE approach, the panel used the evidence-to-decision (EtD) framework to assess all domains important in determining the strength and direction of the recommendations (benefits and harms, values and preferences, resource implications, equity, acceptability, and feasibility). Judgments related to the EtD domains were resolved through consensus or voting, if consensus was not reached. The final recommendations were developed during a two-day meeting held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in March 2015. Conflicts of interests among the panel members were handled according to the World Health Organization rules. There is lack of national data on the incidence of adenomatous polyps or the age groups in which the incidence surges. There were no national clinical trials assessing the effectiveness of the different modalities of screening for colorectal cancer and their impact on mortality. The panel recommends screening for colorectal cancer in Saudi Arabia in asymptomatic Saudi patients at average risk of colorectal cancer. An infrastructure should be built to achieve that goal.

The roots of advanced practice nursing (APN) can be traced back to the 1890s, but the nurse practitioner (NP) emerged in Western countries during the 1960s in response to the unmet healthcare needs of populations in rural areas. These early NPs utilized the medical model of care to assess, diagnose and treat. Nursing has since grown as a profession, with its own unique and distinguishable, holistic, science-based knowledge, which is complementary within the multidisciplinary team. Today, APNs demonstrate nursing expertise in clinical practice, education, research and leadership, and are no longer perceived as \"physician replacements\" or assistants. Saudi Arabia has yet to define, legislate or regulate APN. This article aims to disseminate information from a Saudi APN thought leadership meeting, to chron.icle the history of APN within Saudi Arabia, while identifying strategies for moving forward. It is important to build an APN model based on Saudi healthcare culture and patient popu.lation needs, while recognizing global historical underpinnings. Ensuring that nursing continues to distinguish itself from other healthcare professions, while securing a seat at the multidisciplinary healthcare table will be instrumental in advancing the practice of nursing.

In many parts of the world, vulnerable patient populations may be cared for by a clinical nurse specialist (CNS). Nurses desiring to develop themselves professionally in the clinical arena, within the specialty of their choice, have the opportunity to obtain the knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications necessary to attain advanced practice positions such as CNS or nurse consultant (NC). Although studies have demonstrated the benefits of such roles and while the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends it, advanced nursing practice is not yet integrated into the health care culture in Saudi Arabia. The reasons for this are multiple, but the most important is the poor image of clinical nursing throughout the country. This article aims to share a perspective on CNS practice, while casting light on some of the obstacles encountered within Saudi Arabia. A model is proposed representing specialist nurse-physician collaborative practice for implementation nationally. The model has been implemented in the care of the colorectal and stoma patient populations while taking into consideration patient population needs and local health care culture. This model is based on the concepts of holistic \"patient-centered care\", specialist nurse-physician collaborative practice, and the four practice domains for NCs (expert practice, leadership, research and education) as indicated by the Department of Health in the United Kingdom. We suggest this model will enable the introduction of advanced specialist nursing and collaborative partnerships in Saudi Arabia with benefits for patients, physicians, health care organizations and the nursing profession as a whole.

To compare the complications and outcome after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) for mucosal ulcerative colitis (MUC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). This is a retrospective study. The study was conducted at a single tertiary referral center. All patients who underwent restorative proctocolectomy with IPAA at a tertiary center in Saudi Arabia from 2001 till 2009 were retrieved. Data was obtained regarding preoperative status, postoperative complications, and functional outcome. A total of 40 patients underwent IPAA, of which 21 cases were of FAP and 19 cases of MUC. Median age at operation for FAP and MUC was 31 (range: 16-45) and 43 (range: 15-65) years, respectively (P < .05). Median length of stay was 10 days (range: 6-42) for FAP and 12 days (range: 9-27) for MUC (P=.1). Postoperative morbidity was noted in 4 cases of FAP and 6 cases of MUC (P=.36). Specifically, wound infection was noted in 2 cases of FAP compared to 3 cases of MUC (P=.55); 1 MUC case had an anastomotic leak (P=.29). One mortality was recorded among the FAP cases (P=.35). The time between the creation of IPAA and the closure of ileostomy was 4.5 and 5 months for FAP and MUC, respectively (P=.87). Median follow-up was 36 months. Median bowel frequency per 24 hours was 6 (range: 3-24) for FAP and 7 (range 3-17) for MUC (P=.54). Intestinal obstruction was reported in 3 cases of FAP and 5 cases of MUC (P=.38). One pouch was excised in a FAP patient. One case of MUC developed pouchitis. The outcome after IPAA was inferior for MUC compared to FAP, but it was not statistically significant due to the small sample size. The morbid status of the MUC cases and their older age contributed to the minor differences.

Advanced practice nursing roles are developing globally, and opportunities for advanced practice nursing are expanding worldwide due to the need for expert nursing care at an advanced level of practice. Yet it is well recognized that barriers exist with respect to APRNs being able to practice to the full extent of their education and training. Addressing barriers to APRN practice worldwide and ensuring that APRNs are able to practice to the full extent of their education and training can help to promote optimal role fulfillment as well as assessment of the impact of the APRN role.

Advanced practice nursing roles are developing globally, and opportunities for advanced practice nursing are expanding worldwide due to the need for expert nursing care at an advanced level of practice. Yet it is well recognized that barriers exist with respect to APRNs being able to practice to the full extent of their education and training. Addressing barriers to APRN practice worldwide and ensuring that APRNs are able to practice to the full extent of their education and training can help to promote optimal role fulfillment as well as assessment of the impact of the APRN role.

Denise Hibbert, great-granddaughter of celebrated Derby coachmaker Herbert Mountford Holmes, thought readers might be interested to read extracts from his diary detailing his philanthropic involvement with a local Sunday school.

Background Bloodstream infections from central venous catheters (CVC-BSIs) increase morbidity and costs in intensive care units (ICUs). Substantial reductions in CVC-BSI rates have been reported using a combination of technical and non-technical interventions. Methods We conducted a 2-year, four-cluster, stepped non-randomised study of technical and non-technical (behavioural) interventions to prevent CVC-BSIs in adult and paediatric ICUs in England. Random-effects Poisson regression modelling was used to compare infection rates. A sample of ICUs participated in data verification. Results Of 223 ICUs in England, 215 (196 adult, 19 paediatric) submitted data on 2479 of 2787 possible months and 147 (66%) provided complete data. The exposure rate was 438 887 (404 252 adult and 34 635 paediatric) CVC-patient days. Over 20 months, 1092 CVC-BSIs were reported. Of these, 884 (81%) were ICU acquired. For adult ICUs, the mean CVC-BSI rate decreased over 20 months from 3.7 in the first cluster to 1.48 CVC-BSIs/1000 CVC-patient days (p<0.0001) for all clusters combined, and for paediatric ICUs from 5.65 to 2.89 (p=0.625). The trend for infection rate reduction did not accelerate following interventions training. CVC utilisation rates remained stable. Pre-ICU infections declined in parallel with ICU-acquired infections. Criterion-referenced case note review showed high agreement between adjudicators (κ 0.706) but wide variation in blood culture sampling rates and CVC utilisation. Generic infection control practices varied widely. Conclusions The marked reduction in CVC-BSI rates in English ICUs found in this study is likely part of a wider secular trend for a system-wide improvement in healthcare-associated infections. Opportunities exist for greater harmonisation of infection control practices. Future studies should investigate causal mechanisms and contextual factors influencing the impact of interventions directed at improving patient care.